1942 Ford Pickup Stake Bed

Description

When your grandparents were working, trucks like this 1942 Ford were responsible for all the heavy lifting around town. Capable of moving massive loads, they were perfect for hard work in the days before interstate travel. Today, they're fun and practical, and this '42 is actually pretty darned rare, too.

Ford restyled their trucks just in time for the war, so this was the freshest face in the workforce. It remains one of the most popular looks, and it's easy to see why. Sleek and modern, particularly compared to the trucks just a few years earlier, it has an honest face that looks like it doesn't mind a little hard work. The bright blue paint is nicely applied, not over-done, but about what you'd expect from a blue-collar worker like this. In 1942, chrome was getting expensive and scarce, so a lot of the brightwork was painted contrasting cream, but a few shiny bits managed to get onto the assembly line anyway. The wood stake bed is practical as well as handsome and is perhaps the most appealing aspect of an old truck like this, combining natural materials and their warmth with a vintage look that most folks find hard to resist. For safety, that's the fuel tank relocated to the bed and shined up to look good, because the original lived behind the driver's seat.

Speaking of the driver's seat, it's dressed in dark blue vinyl that isn't exactly correct, but still looks great and will wear like granite. The color-matched dash and steering wheel are another light custom touch, and the rubber mat on the floor means that it can still work in the field without worrying about soiling new carpets. The original gauges are fitted into a compact rectangular instrument panel ahead of the driver, and the speedometer conveniently shows shift points for the 4-speed manual gearbox-a drag racer this truck is not. The floor shifter needs some deliberate action, but these were men's trucks and you'll get the hang of it easily, and for such a big rig, it's actually easy to drive and quite pleasant.

Now some of you might be alarmed that there's no flathead V8 under the hood, but Ford's 226 cubic inch inline-six was actually more powerful and delivered better fuel economy to boot. It's also just as reliable as the venerable flathead, without the associated overheating problems that plague some of its V8 siblings. The engine shows some signs of use, but it still inhales through an oil bath air cleaner and single downdraft carburetor, and has a nice trucky grumble from the single exhaust that fits it quite well. Underneath, the suspension is heavy-duty enough to support a railroad car, and the dual rear wheels mean that you can load everything you own into the bed and it won't even blink. The frame-off nature of the restoration is obvious from underneath, where it's clean and tidy with all the original equipment in place. The only notable deviation from stock are the shiny polished rear wheels, but they look great and wear correct 7.00-16 tires.

Heavy-duty haulers like this are the next big thing in car collecting, and this '42 Ford is a great place to start. Call today!